In the line of fire

By Lia Bichel
Firefighters from Dandenong and surrounds have been flat out since Friday, joining forces with CFA crews from across the state to battle the state’s deadly bushfires.
Brigades from Dandenong, Keysborough, Noble Park and Springvale have battled to contain and extinguish raging infernos in Bunyip, Labertouche, and St. Andrews.
They also attended multiple spot fires in the Dandenong area including a blaze on EastLink near the Dandenong Bypass on Saturday.
Many firefighters braved the heat and fierce working conditions for up to 12 hours before switching shifts with other CFA members, said media information officer for Region 8, John Painter.
“They would have been absolutely exhausted,” he said.
“With the weather we had on the weekend, in line with the heat of the fire, their shifts would have seemed like an eternity.”
After Ash Wednesday devastated the country 26 years ago, Mr Painter signed himself up as a firefighter and said he knew first-hand the effect that tragic fires could have on members and their families.
“Their experiences would have been horrendous,” he said.
“The severity and magnitude of the fires in Bunyip and Labertouche would mean they were definitely the worst fires they would have ever had to deal with. It is extremely hard for the families of firefighters. Families have to watch everything on television and see what their loved ones are experiencing and it can have such a huge emotional impact on them.”
Mr Painter said firefighters must also go through the heart-wrenching job of helping police in the ‘mop-up’ stages – sorting through debris, gutted homes, and finding the bodies of those who didn’t survive the firestorms.
He said all firefighters would receive appropriate support.
“We have what’s called the Critical Incident Street Peers, who are registered firefighters that assess the initial welfare of the members,” he said.
“They keep an eye on their physical and mental welfare, and get them the support they need, such as a medical professional.”
Communities affected by the blaze have thrown their support behind firefighters.
“The amount of work these firefighters have put in is absolutely magnificent. And we need to thank the employers of the volunteer firefighters, because we could not have done the work without the employers’ support,” Mr Painter said.
“I have noticed that when the chips are down, Australians do their finest work. People from all walks of life; husbands, wives, employers of large businesses and small businesses, everyone just gets involved and do all that they can do to help.”